1953

Rex Baxter, Jr., of Amarillo, Texas, a lean, serious boy of 17, won convincingly at the Southern Hills Country Club, Tulsa, Okla. He defeated George Warren, III, 16, of Hampton, S.C., 2 and 1, in the final. The entry list for this even closed at a new high of 713, representing 41 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada.

Leo H. Jordan, Jr., technically lowered the record in sectional qualifying when he played the Santa Fe Hills Country Club course, in Kansas City, Mo., in 60, although par there was only 58. Three 13-year-olds qualified, and all advanced to the fourth round. The youngest was Jack Nicklaus, of Columbus, Ohio, who had turned 13 in January. Another was Verner Stanley, who qualified for the second time.

Three Canadians also qualified, but they went out in the first round. Keith Lopp, of Long Beach, Calif., and Robert L. Prall, of Salem, Ore., went farther in the second round than any pair had gone previously in match play. Lopp finally won on the 23rd hole.

Terry Thomas, of Canandaigua, New York, made a hole in one on the 165-yard 14th hole as he was losing in the third round. Donald Bisplinghoff was too old to defend.